Meike Neitz

+++ Update 06/2022: After 1,5 years in Namibia and with the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ) - I'm back in Cologne, Germany and am excited to have joined Germany Trade & Invest! +++ I love new challenges, so my career path has taken me around the globe - always in Senior Executive roles. Each country I have lived in and each position has taught me valuable things and shaped me to be the Allrounder I am today: A Startup- and Communications expert, passionate about building Startup ecosystems; an event host & MC with a deep understanding of international political and economic relations and a passionate networker with contacts all over the world. Find me if you ✔️ are looking for a competent, knowledgeable and charming host for your (Tech-) conference or event ✔️ would like to know more about building Startup ecosystems ✔️ are looking for a Comms experts with a focus on: Storytelling & Public Relations, Pitchtraining ✔️ are interested in learning more about Startup dynamics in Emerging Markets / Southern Africa in particular. For those of you that brought a bit of time to read, here's my story: Career 1) My first job after uni: I first worked as a Project Manager, then Country Director for an emerging markets consulting & research firm, managing projects in: Bangkok, Algiers, Tunis, Jakarta, Istanbul - this is where my love for working in developing countries started. Career 2) Returning back to Germany, I managed all start-up investments and press/media relations for a high profile Turkish entrepreneur & investor (participant of "Höhle der Löwen, the German "Shark Tank"​) and his group of companies - this was my deep dive into the startup world. Career 3) In April 2016 I founded my own communications consulting agency "Die Zukunftsmanufaktur"​ (Public Relations, Pitchtraining, Storytelling, Content Marketing). In the midst of the pandemic in January 2020 I was hired by Electric Scooter manufacturer Kumpan electric as an Interim Head of Communications. In addition, my event host (moderator) work has taken me to conferences all over Europe and allows me to deep dive into a economic issues and political debates - which is what I love about it. My clients are Commerzbank, GIZ, HTGF, WILO, Ruhr:Summit, Rotonda Business Club, Twenty2X an many more. Career 4) From Dec 2020 - May 2022 I was a Digital Ambassador with GIZ to help grow the Namibian Startup ecosystem. Career 5) Joining GTAI, I'm now in charge of internationalization of 12 Digital Hubs of Ministry of Economic Affairs